A recent court case involving the pharmaceutical company Novartis focuses on investigating its unfair marketing practices and bribery, this time in Greece.

Novartis ranks first for market capitalisation among pharmaceutical companies worldwide, and has been involved in similar cases in the US, China, Japan, South Korea and Turkey.

The Greek Novartis file was opened in the summer of 2016, when two Greek whistleblowers — Novartis executives — provided evidence to US authorities which allegedly revealed payments to doctors working both privately and in Greek hospitals.

It is obvious that such practices, including the overpricing of drugs currently under investigation, cause an excessive burden on national health systems.

1. What will the Commission do, at Member State and EU level, to investigate and prevent any such cases of corruption, unfair competition and leverage on the internal market?

2. How will the Commission protect whistleblowers and any citizens who may potentially reveal abusive and illegal corporate practices at EU level?